HP estimates speeds of 28ppm for black print and 21ppm for colour, though is sincere enough to state both of these are in draft mode. It would be interesting to understand the number of individuals frequently print draft files. We're progressively of the viewpoint that it's few and that draft mode is offered by all printer manufacturers primarily so they can quote high print speeds on their printers' boxes.

In normal print mode, which is what we utilize for all our tests, the Deskjet D5500 completed our five-page black text print in 1:06, which relates to a speed of 4.55 ppm. The longer, 20-page document took 3:26, increasing the speed to 5.83 ppm, but still a lot more modest than the specifications. Our five-page black text and colour graphics document took 2:02, a speed of 2.46 ppm.

Compared with other, likewise priced inkjet printers, these speeds are rather reasonable and subjectively the printer didn't hang about fiddling with its cartridges, like much of its Photosmart cousins.